I. ˈkaləˌbash, -ˌaa(ə)-, -ˌai- noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Spanish; French calebasse gourd, from Spanish calabaza, perhaps from Arabic qar'ah yābisah dry gourd, from qar'ah gourd + yābisah dry
1. : gourd ; especially : the common bottle gourd
2.
a. or calabash tree : a tropical American tree ( Crescentia cujete )
b. : the hard globose fruit of the calabash
3.
a. : a utensil (as a dipper, bottle, kettle) made from the shell of a calabash
b. : a noise-making device made from the calabash gourd
4. : baobab
5. : medal bronze
6. : a usually curved-stemmed tobacco pipe made from the calabash gourd
II. adjective
Etymology: perhaps so called from the fact that close friends ate from the same calabash
Hawaii : related by ties of affection rather than blood